Baroka welcome Soweto giants

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Aug 21, 2017. 10:30

Baroka FC will look for a high-profile win in the Absa Premiership when they host Orlando Pirates at Peter Mokaba Stadium on 22 August 2017, kick-off at 19h30.

Baroka opened their league campaign with a goalless stalemate away to Limpopo rivals Polokwane City this past weekend. The draw represents a solid start for Kgoloko Thobejane’s side, but they will need to back it up with a positive result against Pirates.

Bakgaga struggled at home last season, winning just one of their 15 matches as hosts, so it is crucial that they make a positive start in their first home match of the 2017/18 season and turn their Polokwane venues into strongholds.

Pirates began their league season with a narrow 1-0 home win over Chippa United on Saturday. Thamsanqa Gabuza’s first-half goal decided the match and saw the Soweto giants pick up all three points on offer.

Following the Buccaneers’ poor season in 2016/17, new coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic will be relieved to have gotten off to a positive start and brighten the mood of the club’s fickle fans. If the Serbian can build on their current good will and the team gain some momentum, their outsiders tag will soon be dispensed with.

In head-to-head stats, Baroka and Pirates have met in just two league matches - both of which took place last season. The teams’ first clash in Polokwane ended in a1-1 draw, with Oscarine Masuluke scoring one of the most memorable goals in PSL history to salvage a point for Bakgaga. The return game in Soweto also ended 1-1, with Issa Sarr scoring a last-gasp equaliser for the Buccaneers.

Baroka’s line-up from their 0-0 draw with Polokwane on 19 August: Vries, Motupa, Kgoetyane, Shaku, Banda, Macha (Mosele 81'), Chawapihwa, Masenamela, Mdatsane, Matloga (Kgaswane 75'), Madubanya.

Pirates’ line-up from their 1-0 win over Chippa on 19 August: Sandilands, Shitolo, Nyauza, Matlaba, Maela, Mobara, Sangweni, Makola (Sarr 83'), Qalinge, Nyatama (Memela 65'), Gabuza (Ndoro 77').